Campaigners who oppose the closure of The Hurlfield View care home for people with dementia have been protesting outside the Town Hall. Last month they presented a 10,000 signature petition to Sheffield City Council. The Council have said they are “one hundred percent confident” there will sufficient pre-bookable respite and day care activities in place from April 2017. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Dozens of taxi drivers joined a demonstration outside the Town Hall against rules which allow drivers licensed by other local authorities to ply their trade in Sheffield. A convoy of drivers joined the protest from Atterclife, sounding their car horns and driving slowly to raise awareness of the issue. The Deregulation Act 2015 allows cross-border licensing of private hire and hackney carriage operators enabling drivers for Uber and some local companies to by-pass Sheffield Council’s licensing arrangements. Union officials argue that deregulation is putting public safety at risk. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Hundreds of residents took part in an anti-fracking march this weekend from Mosborough to the Butchers Arms on Marsh Lane, Eckington. The march was organised to demonstrate against plans by oil and chemicals company Ineos to start exploring shale gas reserves in North Derbyshire and South Yorkshire. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!
Sheffielders came out in force for a third time this weekend to protest against decisions of new US President, Donald Trump, and his planned State visit to the UK. The City Hall demonstration was one of many events organised around the World at which millions have protested against Trump’s ban on entry to the US for nationals of seven mainly muslim countries. The rally was organised by Sheffield Stand Up to Racism. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!
Families and carers were among dozens of protesters appealing to Sheffield Council to reverse their decision to close down Hurlfield View dementia centre. Over 8,000 people have signed a petition calling on the council to halt the closure of the centre which provides specialised residential respite care for users with dementia, include support for carers. Sue Harding is presenting the petition to Sheffield Council and spoke with Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake.
A Sheffield rally against Donald Trump’s US entry ban on nationals of seven majority Muslim countries was attended by more than 2000 people. The rapidly organised protest outside Sheffield Town Hall was one of many across the country including London, Manchester, Leeds and Glasgow. Trump’s recent executive order puts a temporary ban on US entry for nationals of Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Iran and Libya. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Protesters built a cardboard wall in Sheffield city centre as part of a demonstration against the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States. Boxes were lined up in front of speakers outside Sheffield Town Hall to symbolise Trump’s plan for a border wall with Mexico. The gathering, organised by people and groups including Sheffield Stop the War Coalition, Stand Up To Racism and Black Lives Matter, was one of many similar protests across the world as the presidential inauguration got underway. Sham Powell reports for Sheffield Live!
Members of Sheffield Palestine Solidarity Campaign picketed the Staples store, Eyre Street, in a call to stop the sale of HP products, part of a wider boycott campaign to defend Palestinian rights. Campaigners claim HP is providing technologies to the Israeli government that are used in oppressive practices and in breach of international law. Invited to comment, an HP spokesperson said: “HP has been strongly committed to socially responsible business practices throughout its 75 year history. It is not our policy to take sides in political disputes between countries or regions. Instead, we focus on making the best products we can to help improve the lives of people around the world.” Sham Powell reports for Sheffield Live!
Campaigners to save Sheffield trees circled the Town Hall to form a human ribbon as part of the latest rally against the Council’s tree felling programme. Hundreds of people turned out in support of Sheffield Tree Action Group, many wearing yellow clothes to symbolise the yellow ribbons that are wrapped around the 20,000 trees scheduled to be removed by City Council contractor, Amey. Sham Powell reports for Sheffield Live!
Twelve months on from submitting a legal dossier to the Home Office, the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign have renewed their call for a full enquiry into the Battle of Orgreave. The campaign responded in December 2015 to a Home Office request for evidence concerning allegations of police brutality and wrongdoing against picketing miners at the Orgreave coking plant on 18 June 1984. The legal dossier included information relating to complaints of police fabrication of evidence, wrongful arrest, malicious prosecution and perjury. One year on members of the campaign made their way to London to protest current Home Secretary Amber Rudd’s decision not to hold a public inquiry into the events or Orgreave. The Home Office has said that it will additional files on the 1984 miners’ strike in early 2017, including information relating to Orgreave. Simon Thake reports for SheffieldLive!